Atlantic halibut is a premium cold-water farmed fish with specific welfare challenges related to its flat-fish anatomy, aggressive behaviour and sensitivity to stress and disease.
Atlantic halibut welfare presents challenges specific to their unusual anatomy and life history. As flatfish, they have evolved to rest on the seabed - appropriate tank design must provide adequate bottom surface area, not just volumetric space. Their slow growth rate means that welfare compromise (if present) is sustained over years rather than months. Aggression causing fin damage is a significant welfare concern that requires careful density management and potentially physical separation of aggressive individuals. The premium price of halibut in the market should support premium welfare investment - a fish that takes 5 years to grow has endured any welfare failures for longer than almost any other farmed species.